MORE than £6 billion has been paid in NHS prescription charges in England since 2011, according to new research.

England remains the only part of the UK without universal free prescriptions after the Labour Welsh government scrapped the charge in 2007, followed by Northern Ireland in 2010 and finally Scotland in 2011 where the policy cost £1.5bn last year.

On the day that charges in England have risen by 2.6 per cent to £9.90, analysis conducted for the SNP by the House of Commons Library has revealed that English patients have shelled-out £6bn since it was scrapped in Scotland.

SNP health spokeswoman Amy Callaghan MP said: “While households in England prepare to face another hike in prescription charges, households in Scotland can be safe in the knowledge that fees will remain abolished.

“This is the simple case of a tale of two governments.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Almost nine in 10 prescription items are available for free on the NHS in England and children, and those aged 60 and over, pregnant women, and those with medical conditions like cancer, epilepsy and diabetes, remain exempt.”